Yankees and Red Sox renew rivalry: Preview and pick

[Raji]

It is arguably the best rivalry in sports and the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees will try and add to the history this weekend at Fenway Park. Covers.com gives you a complete breakdown of the teams as they head into their first meeting this season.

Starting Pitching

A quick look at New York's starting rotation must make owner George Steinbrenner sick to his stomach. Because of injuries to Carl Pavano, Mike Mussina and Chien-Ming Wang, youngsters Chase Wright and Sean Henn should get the ball this weekend. Wright is scheduled to face Daisuke Matsuzaka on Sunday.

"We just feel, emotionally, (Wright) can handle it," Yankee manager Joe Torre told the Newark Star-Ledger.

Fortunately for Yankees backers, the team’s most experienced starter, Andy Pettitte, will start the first game opposite Curt Schilling.

The Red Sox have rebuilt their team around pitching over the last few years. After Wednesday’s games, Boston ranked second in team earned run average (2.55) and had given up the fewest total runs (33) in the league. This success has led directly to the team’s 3-9-1 over/under record.

The timing of the series also works out beautifully for Boston. Schilling, Matsuzaka and Josh Beckett are all scheduled to start.

Edge: Red Sox

Batting

The Yankees still have the best batting order in the majors. Alex Rodriguez may be getting all the press right now, but his teammates are playing a large role in his success. It’s hard to pitch around A-Rod if Bobby Abreu is on base 38 percent of the time and Jason Giambi is hitting behind him.

Throw in Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter – arguably the best one-two punch at the top of any order – and the New York lineup is downright scary. Yankee bats have played a large role in the team’s 8-4-1 over/under record.

Boston is still trying to replace Damon at the top of their order. Coco Crisp didn’t work out last year so the job has fallen to newly acquired shortstop Julio Lugo.

The meat of the order is Boston’s strength. Slugger David Ortiz continues to battle fielding shifts when he's at the plate, but Red Sox manager Terry Francona doesn't want Ortiz to change his approach.

"We don't want to turn David into a No. 2 hitter," Francona told the Boston Herald on Wednesday. "We want David to drive the ball. And if the shift takes a couple of hits away, that's the way it is."

Edge: Yankees

Bullpen

Yankee relievers have been forced into action early and often because of injuries to the starting rotation. The bullpen has done a good job so far with a 2.26 ERA over the first 13 games of the season.

Mariano Rivera has a high ERA and one blown save but hasn’t had many opportunities to close games. The early pattern for the Yankees has been either that they’re well ahead in the ninth inning or trailing.

Boston's Jonathan Papelbon is the closer again this year despite his club’s offseason intention to make him a starter. The Red Sox were hoping free agent Joel Pineiro would win the job, but he pitched below expectations in spring training.

Rookie Hideki Okajima has been a great addition to the pen. The left-hander has eight strikeouts and a 1.35 ERA in six and 2/3 innings of work.

Entering Thursday's play, Boston relievers had pitched the fewest innings (32) in the majors.

Edge: Red Sox

Prediction

The pitching matchups favor Boston, but bettors shouldn’t discount the Yankees' ability to score runs. The Red Sox aren’t great against lefties so look for the Yankees to steal the first game of the series with Andy Pettitte starting. The Red Sox should take the last two contests.


Raji